Notebook



Aug. 19, 1952 c. F. ALLISON NOTEBOOK 2 SPEETS- -SI-EET 1 Filed Aug. 15, 1947 mm; u .w w). R AH O mfg V 6 NE 1.. L

A 19, 1952 c. F. ALLISOYN 2,607,351

NOTEBOOK 7 Filed Aug. .15, 1947 2 $HEETSSl-IEET 2 INV R A F/husou 14 rromvg v Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOTEBOOK Charles F. Allison, Sparks, Nev. ApnlicationAugust 13, 1947, SerialNo. 768,385.

books. More particularly this invention relates to improvements in note books wherein the pages or leaves are readily inserted and removed.

It is. therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved note book wherein the pages or leaves are readily inserted and removed. V v

certain types of books are particularly useful for the purpose of receiving notes and memora'n'cla. and such books are customarily referred to as note, books insane instances the leaves or pages of the note booksare. secured to the binding or cover by means of paste, glue or stitchin and in thoseinstances the leaves or pages cannot easily be removed and replaced. In other instances, the leaves or pages are secured to the cover or binding by means. of hinged rings, threaded retaining membera'spiral Springs, resilient bands, and the like; and in such instances the leaves'or pages, can, be removed and replaced. Note books of the latter type are more desirable than are the note books. wherein the leaves or pages are permanently held against removal, because the leaves or pages in the latter type of note bookcan be inserted or removed at will. However, many ofthe note books of the latter type are subject to objectionable disadvantages.

In the case of note books which have hinged rings that releasably supportthe leaves or pages, the covers "or binders of those note books. do not press against the leaves or pages; andas a result the leaves or pages receive but little support, from the covers or binders, against shifting. The principal support that the leaves or pages receive against shifting is provided by the hinge rings; and thus the portions of the pages or leaves adjacent the ring-receiving openings of those pages or leaves will be subjected to considerable stress and may tear. In the case of note books which have spiral springs to-support the leaves or pages, the same difii'culty is experienced and the pages or leaves in such note hooks are subject to tearing. The pages or leaves of note books, that use threaded retaining members to releasably hold the leaves orpages, can be held against shifting by the pressure of the covers or binders; but at least one of the covers of such note books and many of the pages or leaves thereof must be removed and replaced when one or more selected pages or leaves are to be removed and replaced. In addition, the threaded retaining members are easily lost or misplaced during the act of separating the covers or binders of the note book. I

In the case of note books which have resilient 1 Claim. (01.129-18) r 2 r bands to releasably support the pages or leaves, the resilient'bands must, eitherbe removed and the covers or binders separated to permit the removal or replacement of leaves; 01. pages, or e c of the leaves or pages above the, selected page or leaf must be individually removed until the selected leaf or page can bereached. For these various reasons, priorznote booksare objectionable. The present invention obviates these'o b jeoticns by providing a note book: wherein the covers press againstthe leaves or pages and re sist shifting of those leaves and pages, but where-.- in each leaf or page, is held individually and can be inserted or removed, without disturbing any of the other leaves or pages of thenotebook. It is therefore an object of they present invention to provid a loose leaf notebook wherein the coverspress against the pages and leaves, but wherein each page or leaf can be inserted or removed from the note book Without disturbing the other leaves of that note book. i

In the note book provided by the present invention, a resilient element is provided that performs the dual function of supporting each, of the pages or leaves against accidental dislodgment, and also presses the covers toward each other so they can hold the leaves or pages against shifting. By doing so, this one element makes it possible to remove and insert one or more leaves or pages without disturbing the rest of the leaves or pages. keeps the notebook as compact as it can be kept, It is therefore an object .of the present invention to provide a note book with a resilient element that holds the covers together and provides individual support'for the pages or leaves.

Th resilient element of the present invention is preferably positioned forwardly of the hinge .of the note book. I Where this is done, the resilunderstood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purposes of; illustrati n only and do not limit the invention and that Moreover, this element always 1 3 the invention will be defined by the appended claim.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a unitary binding and cover for a note book that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan View of the unitary binding and cover of Fig. 1, and it shows that binding and cover as it is bent into the form it assumesto receive pages or leaves,

Fig. 3 isja perspective view of the unitary binding and cover of Figs. 1 and 2, as that binding and cover is provided with a resilient element and inserted pages or leaves,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one of the v principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig.3 is a partial plan view of a unitary binding'and cover 'and'the reinforcing sheets for,

another note book that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 9 isa partial plan view of a unitary binding and cover for another notebook that is made in accordance ,withthe principles and teachings of the present invention, V

Fig. .10 is a partial plan view of a unitarybinding and cover and inserted support for another notebook that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 11 is a partial plan view of a unitary binding and cover for another note bookthat is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

Fig. 12 is a side elevational View of a modified form of leaf or page that isus able in note books made in accordance v with the principles and teachings of the present invention, and

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the covers and binding of another note book that is made in accordance withfthe principles and teachings of the present invention,

Referring tothe drawing in detail, the numeral denotes the front'cover of a unitary binding and cover for a notebook, 22 is the central portion of that binding and cover, and 24 is the rear cover of that binding and cover. The bindin and cover of Figs. 1 and 2 is formed from a single sheet :of material; and that material should be relatively inexpensive, readily obtainable, relatively stiff, and yet-bendable. Several materials can be used; among which are paper, treated paper, cardboard, metal, cellulose esters, polyvinyl esters and the like. The unitary binding and cover of Fig. 1 has a number of fold lines 26, 28, 36 and 32; .and those lines may be formed by'creasing the unitarybinding and cover or by bending the binding and cover in a bending machine. The unitary binding and cover is also provided with a number of undercut slots 34 which are L-shaped in configuration. While the L-sha'pedconfiguration is preferred, the slots 34 may be given any suitable configuration as long as they are undercut to have a cut-away portion spaced apart as shown in Fig. 1.

beneath-a solid section. The slots 34.ex'tend inwardly from the upper and lower edges of the unitary binding and cover, and those slots are In bending the unitary binding and cover of Fig. 1 to give it the form and configuration shown in Fig. 2, the front cover 26 is left plane, the center portion 22 is bent sharply along the fold lines 26 and 28 to form two spaced revers, the center portion 22 is bent gently to form a semi-.-cylinder, and the the binding is bent sharply along the fore lines so and 32 to.

holding element 36 of thenote book; and that element is shown as a band or a string which extends through and spans the four slots 3.4 at the top of the note book, and then'extends down 1 along the sides of those partsof center portion 22 which are between foldlines 26 and 28Land fold lines 30 and 32. This element may be'a continuous band of elastic material, as for example rubber, synthetic rubber, or rubberized fabric, or

it may have an elastic portion and a non-elastic portion. In the latter case, the elastic portion 1 may include a band ofelastic inateri'alpr an eX.-.

tensible spring. The portions of element 316 which. extend between the inner faces of front and rear covers '20 and2'4" receive thenotches M inthe upper and lower edges of the leaves or pages 38; The pfirtion'softhe element3'6 which extend between theinnerfaces of frontand rear covers 26 and 2 4 are separated by a distance which is less than the overall height of any page or leaf 38 and the distance between the portions of element 36 between the inner faces of front and rear covers 20 and 24 is preferably less than the shortest distance between the apexes of .the

notches 40 of ea'ch page 38.-. Where this is the case, the portions of element 36 between the front and rear covers 20 and 2'4 must be forced further apart to permit insertionof pages or leaves, and .then those portions will move into the notches .40 of those pages or leaves and hold the pages or leaves against accidental dislodgment.

In inserting a page 38, thenotch 40 in the bot-;

is in register with the upper portion of element 36, whereupon the leaf or page 38 can be moved upwardly into locking engagement with, the. element 36. The upward and downward movement of the leaves or pages 38 will not tend to dislod e the element 36 from the notches 34 in the bind ing and cover, because those notches are undercut so the element 36 can b e r'noved to the rear of those slots where there is no vertical opening through which the element 36 can escape. In assembling the various component parts of the note book the element 36 will be passed downwardly into the area bonded by the semi-cylinder of the center portion 22, the upper portion of element 36 will be raisedupwardly and slipped into the four upper slots 34, the lower portion of element 36 will be moved downwardly and slipped,

into the four lower slots 34, and then the element 36 will be moved rearwardly into the hori-. zontallydisposed portions of the slots 34. Once in this position, the element 3.6 will be held there by frictional forces between, the element 36. and theunitary' binding and cover.

The center portion 22; of the note book of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 will bend to permit opening or closing of the covers 26 and 24; and it will be noted that the vertically extending portions of element 36 are disposed forwardly of the arcuate section, of center portion 22. As a result, the element 36 must stretch whenever the note book, is opened, and the resilience of element 36 will urge the front and rear covers 26 and 24 together and will also tend to keep the note book closed. The action of the element 36 in moving the front and rear covers 26 and 24 toward each other and in holding the note book closed serves to reduce. the overall volume of the note book and also serves to hold the leaves or pages 38 against shifting. Such action minimizes the forces to be borne by those portions of leaves or pages 38 adjacent notches 46.

The note book can be opened toany particular page or place, and a page or pages can be inserted or removed without disturbing the rest of the pages or leaves. The stretching of the element 36- will cause that element to hold the rest of the leaves or pages even more tightly against the front and rear covers 26 and 24. The selected page or pages can, however, be withdrawn easily and without bending or bowing.

In Fig. 5, the numeral 42 denotes the front cover of another note book that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that notebook has a rear cover 44 and a binding 46. The front and rear covers 42 and 44 are made separate from the binding 46, and the binding 46 has a revers 48 and a second revers 56. a The portions of binding 46 which are disposed inwardly and. rearwardly of 'the revers 48 and 50 are parallel to the front and rear covers 42 and 44, and those portions of binding 46 overlie the rear portions of the covers 42 and 44. The front and rear covers 42 and 44 and the portions of the binding 46 adjacent to the covers 42 and 44 have undercut slots 34 therein which are in register'with each other. The construction shown in Fig. is quite similar to that shown in Fig. 2; but the binding 46 and the covers 42 and 44 of Fig. 5 are made as separate pieces and are then secured together. The covers 42 and 44 and the binding 46 can be held permanently in assembled relation by cement, adhesives, stitching or the like, or they can be releasably held in assembled relation by means of a resilient element. That resilient element can seat in the L-shaped slots 34 and can extend downwardly along the outer surfaces of the inner, rearwardly-directed portions of binding 46. Where this is done, the resilient element will not only hold the covers 42 and 44 in assembled relation with binding 46 but it will also serve to support pages or leaves 38 inserted in the note book. As in the case of the note book of Figs. 2v and 3, the arcuate portions of the binding will conceal and protect the resilient element. With this arrangement, the resilient element is protected against fraying or cutting through accidental contact with other objects; and. at the same time, a smooth and attractive appearance is provided for the note book. In Fig. 6 the numeral 52 denotes the front cover of still another notebook that is made in; accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that notebook has a rear cover; 54; and a bindingv 56... The front and rear covers 52.; and: 54 and the binding 56. are made inone piece, and thecovers are plane while the binding is; send-cylindrical in form. The

binding and, covers are-made of flexible. materialto permit. opening and closingof thecovereand also to permit. the coversi'to move and press against pages or leavesinserted therebetween.

The rear edges of the. front: and'rea'rcovers 5.2 and 54 carry an elastic element 58' at the top' and bottom thereof. These elements can be glued,

sewn, or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the front and rear covers'52 and.54;- and they will serve the same purpose as'the elastic element 36 serves in the notebook 01 Figs. 1-3.

In Fig. 7, the numeral 60, denotes the front cover of another notebook that is made in accordance with the principles and'teachings' of the present invention; and that notebook has a rear cover 62 and a bind-ing'64'.' The front cover 60, the rear cover- 62, and the binding are made unitary in form; the front and rear covers being plane and: the binding 64 beingseini-cylindrical inform. The binding 64 receives a cylindrical insert 66 that is provided with reentrant portions 68 which extend inwardly towardthe interior of the cylindrical insert 66. The reentrant portions 68 are parallel to the front and rear'cove'rs iill and 62, and they lie in'"thesame' planes with those covers. The reentrant portions 68 of the cylindrical insert 66 'are provided withundercut slots 34;, of the type'shown in the note book of Figs. 1-3, and those slots receive a resilient element 36 of the type used in the notebook of Figs. 1-3. This element will pull the reentrant por-' tions 68 of the insert 66 toward each other; and

since the insert 66 is secured to the binding 64, as

by glue, adhesives, stitching, or the like, the elastic element 36 will pull'the covers 60 and 62 toward each other. With this arrangement, the

covers 60 and 62 can be moved apart to permit insertion or removal of pages, or leaves, andthereafter the resilient element 36 will pull the" covers 60- and 62into engagement pages therebetween. g g

In Fig. 8, the numeral 16 denotesjthe front cover of another notebook that is made in ac.-

with; "the, leaves or cordance with the principles arid teachings of' the present invention; and that notebook has a rear cover 12 and a semi-cylindrical binding 14. The front cover 10, the rear cover 12 and the binding 14 are unitary construction, and are made of flexible material. Two reinforcing sheets 16 are cemented, glued, sewn, or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces of the front cover 19 and the rear cover 12, and those sheets. stiffen the covers 10 and 12., The inner ends of thereinforcing sheets 16 extend, inwardlybeyond the rear edges of thefront and. rear covers Miami 12, and they extend intothe area confined and enclosed by the binding 14.. ,The. inner ends of v and a binding 62. The frontnover 18, the rear cover 86, and the binding section' 82 are made iinitary in form and they are made of material that is relatively stiff but is bendable. 'The front cover 18, the rear cover 80 and the binding 82 could of course be made separately and then cemented, stitched or otherwise secured together; but in any event the front and rear covers "and 80 must be capable of opening and closing. The numeral 84 denotes a loop of wire that extends inwardly into the space formed by the binding 02, and a wire loop of similar configuration is positioned below the loop 84. These two loops perform the function of holding the pages or leaves in the notebook. When leaves or pages are to be inserted or removed, the wire 84 at the top can be bent upwardly or the wire at the bottom can be bent downwardly as the pages or leaves are inserted or removed. Thereafter the loops 84 of wire will spring back to normal position and hold the leaves and pages in position. The loops 84 of wire will not be capable of urging the-covers I8 and 80 against the leaves or pages in the notebook, but that action can-be provided by the binding 82. The binding 82 has two converging portions at the front thereof and these can be made resilient enough to urge the covers 18' and 80 against the pages or leaves.

If desired, one of the wire loops 84 can be made stiff and unyielding; and in that case, the other loop 84 can be relied upon to bend and permit insertion and removal of pages or leaves. Similarly, in each of the other note books of the present invention, one or the other of the spans of the page-supporting element can be made unyielding while the other span permits insertion and removal of the pages or leaves.

In Fig. 10, the numeral 86 denotes the front cover of another notebook that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that note book has a rear cover 88 and a binding 90. The front cover 86, the rear cover 88, and the binding 90 are made unitary in form;- and they are of a resilient but relatively stiff material. A U-shaped insert 92 is positioned within the binding 90, and that insert has reentrant portions 94. The reentrant portions 94 are parallel to the parallel portions of the binding 90, and they can be glued, sewn, or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the binding 90. A resilient element 96 extends between the inner faces at the top of the reentrant portions. 84 of the U-shaped member 92, and a similar element extends between the inner faces at the bottoms of those portions. Those elements serve the same purpose and function which the resilient element 36 serves in the note book ofFigs. 1-3. By having the insert 92 secured to the interior of binding 90, the action of, elements 96 in drawing thev reentrant portions 94 together will tend to pull the front and rear covers 88 and 88 together.

In Fig. 11, the numeral 98 denotes the front cover of another notebook that is made in accordance with the principles .and teachings of the present invention; and the numeral I denotes the rear cover of, that notebook. The front cover is spacedfrom the center .sectionI08 by revers I02 and a second revers I 04., The center section is spaced from the rear, cover I00 by a revers I08 and a second'revers H0. The folded portions between the center section I06 and the front and rear covers 98 an d I00 are provided with undercut slots 34 which are in; register with each other. Those slots carry a resilient element 36 which is similar to the resilient element 36 of the note book of Figs. 1-3. w

In Fig. 12, the numeral II 2 denotes another note books provided by the present invention. The page I I2 has two slots or notches I I4 in the rear edge thereof; and while those notches are different from the notches 40 of the page 38, they can engage and be held by elastic elements similar to element 36. The elements to be engaged by the notches II4 of pages II2 must be spaced inwardly from the upper and lower edges of the notebook so they will be in register with notches H4. Those elastic elements can be held in deep slots 34, they can be glued or sewn to the binding or covers, or they can be held in openings formed in the binding or covers. The elastic elements usable to support the pages I I2 should be spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the notches II 4, whereby those elements will hold the pages against accidental displacement. It is obvious that the notches I I4 could be directed toward the centers of the pages II2 instead of being directed toward the upper and lower edges of those pages. In that event, the elastic elements should be spaced apart a distance less than the distance between the notches.

In Fig. 13, the numeral IIB denotes the front cover of another notebook that is made in accordance With the principles and teachings of the present invention; and that notebook has a rear cover I I8 and a binding 48. This binding is similar to the binding of the notebook of Fig. 5, and it has the inwardly extending portions adjacent revers 48 and 50. These inwardly extending portions lie against and are secured to the front and rear covers H6 and N8 of the note book of Fig. 13. The inwardly extending portions of binding 46, and the front and rear covers I I6 and I I8 are provided with undercut slots 34 that can receive an elastic element 36. The inner edges of the front and rear covers H5 and H8 are provided with spaced projections I20 that interleave to act as a hinge for the covers H6 and H8; and these projections prevent shifting of one cover vertically relative to the other.

The note book constructions provided by the present invention make it possible to hold a large number of leaves or pages in a note book, and to remove any one or more of those pages without disassembling the front and rear covers from the binding and without bending or bowing any of the pages. All that need be done in removing a page is to open the front and rear covers of the notebook sufficiently to enable the fingers to reach in and grasp a particular page, to raise or lower the page relative to the covers and the elastic elements carried thereby, and to tilt the page outwardly until one of the notches 40 or H4 clears one of the resilient elements. Insertion of a page requires the reverse procedure, but that procedure is equally quick and simple.

Whereas several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in the drawing and accompanying description it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made in the form of the invention withoutaffecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

A note book comprising a front cover, a rear cover, said front and rear covers being spaced- 9 lying within the back and spaced therefrom so as to be covered thereby, a resilient element spanning the space between the front and rear covers and. lying in the horizontal portions of said slots and lying in the space between the covers and back whereby said element is concealed by said back and the covers are biased toward each other, and detachable leaves having notches therein extendin inwardly from the edges thereof and engaging said resilient element when the leaves are assembled in said book.

CHARLES F. ALLISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 15 Number Great Britain July 8, 1947 

